Machine for forming uppers of boots and shoes.



VV/T/VES'SES M. BROCK & L. M. BROWN.

MAQHINE FOR FORMING UPPERS 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION man FEB. 9. 1914.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

//Z flvvavrag M. BROCK & L. M. BROWN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING UPPERS 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 1914.

1,170,405. Patented Feb. 1,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rrr:

STATS FOE.

llIATTHIAS BROOK, OF ROXBURY, AND LOUIS M. BROWN, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNOR-S TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATEB-SON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR FORMING UPPERS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Application filed February 9, 1914. Serial No. 817,544.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MATTHIAS BROOK and LOUIS M. Bnown, citizens of the United States, residing at Roxbury, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Beverly, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, respectively, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Forming Uppers of Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to the shaping of the uppers of boots and shoes.

Although the invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a machine for use in the manufacture of that class of shoes commonly known to the trade as stitch-clowns, in which the upper is provided with an outturned flange to receive the stitches or other fastenings by which the upper is secured to the sole, it will be apparent that many of the novel features of construction and principles of operation are applicable to the manufacture of shoes of other types.

According to a preferred practice in the manufacture of stitch-down shoes, the upper before its attachment to the sole is subjected to a forming or molding operation in which the sole attaching flange 1s shaped to lie about the toe portion and the toe is given the shape desired for the finished shoe. A method of preparing an up per in this manner forms the subject-matter of U. S. Letters Patent No. 947,895 granted on the application to- Karl Engel, Feb. l, 1910, and a machine by the use of which such a method may be practised is disclosed'm U. S. Letters Patent No. 998,682, granted on the application to Karl Engel, July 25, 1911. According to the practice disclosed in these patents, the marginal portion of the upper blank at the toe end is first clamped between members that confine the margin during the toe forming operation and impart the pressure necessary to form the outturned flange, and the unconfined portion of the blank is then operated upon by a toe former that curves the blank to the shape of the toe of the finished shoe and is moved to cause the toe to project somewhat over the out-turned flange. It will be obvious that in this toe forming operation, unless the blank may be so adjusted as to provide the unconfined portion With the requisite fullness the clamped marginal portion will be subjected to strains to compensate for the excess of material required for the curved shape of the toe, and in view of the further fact that some portions'of the toe, as for eX- ample the abruptly curved end, require a relatively greater amount of material than other portions, the strains upon diflerent portions of the margin will differ both in direction and in degree. In order to avoid unduly straining or tearing the blank it is necessary, therefore, to provide for some redistribution or adjustment of the material to meet the demands of the operation of the toe former. In the practice set forth in the patents above mentioned, accordingly, provision is made for suitable compensating movement of the flange portion of the blank during the toe forming operation.

An object of this invention is to effect improvements in mechanism for forming or shaping shoe uppers.

'A more particular object is to provide mechanism of improved construction and mode of operation for imparting compen- ,fore the toe forming operation, so that during the latter operation the marginal portion of the blank will not be subjected to excessive strains and may be securely clamped and held from movement relative to the clamping means. With this arrangement there is no tendency in the toe forming operation for the material'to be injured by reason of movement between and over the abrupt edges of the clamp membersand the marginal portion of the blank may be subje'cted, irrespective of other considerations, to the desired degree of pressure for forming a flange thereon. I

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for imparting gathering movement to different portions of the blank in Succession to effect the final required adjustment of the material. In the preferred arrangement shown the material is gathered first at the toe end of the blank, and other portions of the blank at the margin are moved subsequently in the general direction of the toe end to effect a further gathering of the material.

Further features reside in the provision of mechanism of novel construction and arrangement for engaging and imparting to portions of an upper blank the movements required to distribute the material in accordance with the demands of the toe forming operation, and for forming a flange on the marginal portion of the blank, with suitable provisions for adjustment'to vary the width of the flange and to vary the amount of gathering movement imparted to portions of the blank.

These and other features of the invention, including certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine of the general type disclosed.

in the pending application of Karl Engel and Louis M. Brown, Ser. No.464h559, filed Nov. 27, 1908. The machine shown in said application comprises mechanism for shaping the toe and heel portions of upper blanks, but only such portions of the complete machine as are directly related to, the features of the present invention Will be described herein. It should be understood also that the invention is not limited in its application to this particular machine but is susceptible of various embodiments.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a machine of the type above referred to, with the present invention embodied therein, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a detached portion of the mechanism for operating upon the forepart of the upper, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, with portions broken away, showing the parts in clamping position at the completion of the forming operation upon a blank, Fig. 4 illustrates in detail one of the gripping devices for the marginal portion of a blank and the means for moving the device to shift the position of the material, Fig. 5 shows one of the grippers detached, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 8, illustrating the relative arrangement of the material shifting devices. The complete machine, as described in the pending application above referred to, is preferably provided with two upper form ing mechanisms, one for formingthe upper of a right shoe and the other for forming the upper of a left shoe. Since these mechanisms both comprise the same parts, only that mechanism which is intended for use in forming the upper of a right shoe is shown and will be described herein in detail.

The upper forming mechanisms are inclined to the horizontal substantially on an angle of 45, and as previously stated comprise means for forming or shaping the heel portion of the upper and means for shaping the toe portion of the upper, these means being arranged to operate in succession. The mechanism for operating upon the toe portion is carried by aslide 2 which is movable up and down the incline of the frame 4-. This slide, it will be understood, is connected with means for operating upon the heel portion of the blank, and during the latter part of the heel forming operation is moved downwardly by means not illustrated herein in detail but fully described in the pending application above mentioned, therebybringing'the mechanism for shaping the toe portion into position to receive the forepart of the upper from which the toe is to be formed.

The mechanism for operating upon the toe portion of the upper comprises two clamp members 6 and 8 constructed and arranged to clamp a marginal portion of the toe part of a width substantially equal to the desired width of the flange to be formed upon said part, the lower clamp member 6 being prefe rably stationary with respect to the upper clamp member and arranged to engage the unfinished side of the upper material or that side which will be located inside the finished shoe. Both clamp members are preferably formed with smooth material engaging faces, the unfinished side of the material being engaged, however, during the clamping operation by other members to be subsequently described and which operate in conjunction with the lower clamp member and are formed with roughened or toothed faces for engaging with greater security this side of the material. The upper clamp member is formed as a plate cut back somewhat from its inner edge for a purpose hereinafter to be set forth, and is carried by a yoke 10 having ears 12 slidingly mounted upon headed rods 14. and pressed upwardly against the heads of these rods by springs 16.

The upper clamp member 8 is moved down into .clamping relation to the lower clamp member 6, .as set forth more fully in the above mentioned pending application. by the engagement with the yoke 10 of a clamp operating lever 18 which, it will be understood, is fulcrumed at one end upon the machine frame and is yieldingly con nected at its other end to an operating rod 20. The lever and rod are loosely connected, and the rod is surrounded at its upper end by a spring 22 which bearsupon a nut 24t and upon the lever and serves to uphold the rod with respect to the lever, this relative upward movement of the rod being limited by a nut 26 on the rod below the lever. The yoke 10 has formed upon its upper face a rib 28 which enters a corresponding groove in the lever 18 and serves to receive and equalize the pressure of the lever. The rod 20 is slotted at its lower end to receive a cam shaft 30, which is suitably rotated in the direction of the arrow shown on Fig. 1, and the rod carries a cam roll 32 which enters a groove 84 in a cam disk 36 on the shaft 30, the lower end of the rod being connected to a fulcrum link 88 by which its movements are partly guided.

After the marginal portion of the toe part of the upper has been clamped to form an out-turned flange, the unclamped portions are acted upon by a toe former L0 mounted upon a rod 42 adjustably carried by a slide 44 which is guided for movement longitudinally of the upper in guide grooves $6 in a slide 48 arranged to move at right angles to said direction of movement of the slide 44:. The toe former 40 has two movements, one movement transverse to the clamping means or to the plane of the clamped portion of the upper and the other longitudinally of the clamping means and substantially parallel to the plane of said clamped portion. The first of these movements is effected by the movement of the slide 48, which carries a cam roll 50 that enters a cam groove 52 in a cam disk 54: on the cam shaft 30, the lower end of the slide being forked to embrace the cam shaft by which it is partly guided in its movements.

For moving the toe former in directions substantially parallel to the plane of the clamped portion of the upper there is provided a slide 56 which is carried by the slide 2 and is formed with an opening through which the rod 42 moves inimparting to the toe former its movement transverse to the plane of the clamped portion of the upper. The slide 56 is ad ustably connected by a rod 58 to a toggle actuated. member 60, the adjustable connections between the rod and member comprising a threaded sleeve 62 on a shouldered portion of which the member is confined by a nut 64, said sleeve being arranged to be turned by a gear 66 intermeshing with a second gear 68 upon a shaft 70 confined against longitudinal movement in a bearing 72 in an upstanding lug 74 on the slide 2.

Turning of the sleeve 62 alone serves to adjust the toe former 40 with respect to the clamp members 6 and 8. These clamp members, however, are carried upon a third slide 7 6 into an upstanding portion of which the shaft 70 is threaded, so that when said shaft is turned by the hand wheel 78, the

slide 7 6 is adjusted upon the slide 2. The threads upon the shaft 70 are of the same pitch as those upon the rod 58, and the gears 66 and 68 have the same number of teeth,

When it is desired to adjust the position of the toe former with respect to the clamp members, the gear 68 may be disconnected from the shaft 70 and slid along said shaft out of engagement with the gear 66, whereby the sleeve 62 may be turned without turning the shaft 70. Variation of the limit of forward movement of the toe formerlongitudinally of the upper varies the bulge of the toe over its flangeand at the same time varies the amount of longitudinal stretch given to the upper during the toe forming operation, the heel portion of the upper being at this time clamped in the heel forming mechanism. Simultaneous adjustment of the slides 56 and 76 upon the slide 2 adapt 'the toe forming mechanism to operate upon shoes of different sizes.

The member 60 is 'pivotally connected to onelink 80 of a toggle, the other link 82 of which is connected to the slide 2. The toggle is straightened and broken, to effect a forward movement of the toe former lon-.-

gitudinally of the upper during the toe forming operation and a backward movement respectively, by a link 8 connected at i one end to the knee joint of the toggle and at .its other end to a fulcrum link 86 upon a bracket 88 on the slide 2, whereby the link 84. is caused to travel with the slide, the link 7 84: being provided at its joint with the ful- 1 '5 crum link 86 with a pin 90 which enters a slot 92 in an offset arm 94: of a toggle opcrating slide 96 forked at its lower end to be varied by turning the nut 64: upon the sleeve 62 so as to provide lost motion b tween the member 60 and the sleeve.

As hereinbefore suggested, an important object of this invention is to provide improved means for effecting a suitable adjustment of the material of the blank to meet the demands of the toe forming operation and to avoid subjecting any portion of the blank to undue or excessive strains. For this purpose the upper clamp member 8 carries upon its lower or clamping face a plurality of grippers comprising in the construction herein shown, pairs of jaws 106 and 108, of which the members 106 are provided with fulcrum pins that pass through and are headed upon the upper side of the clamp member 8. The lower jaws 108 are pivoted transversely to the pins 110 and are so proportioned as to be normally opened by gra *ity when. the clamp member 8 is in its uppermost position. A pin 112 projecting from the jaw 106 and entering a slot in the jaw 108 serves to guide the jaw 108 in its closing and opening movements. The fulcrum pins 110 thus serve to, pivot both jaws of the gripping devices for swinging movement together about axes that extend transversely to the planes of the clamp ing faces of the members 6 and 8, and the jaw 108 has in addition a closing and opening movement with respect to the jaw 106.

The gripping devices, it will be seen, radiate outwardly from the blank engaging portion of the clamp member 8 and are arranged to engage the marginal portion of the blank before and during the clamping of the blank between the members 6 and 8. For gripping the lower or unfinished side of the material more effectively, the lower jaws 108 are provided with teeth at their material engaging ends, but the members 106 are preferably formed with smooth surfaces as shown to avoid injuring the material on its finished side. The jaws 106 of the two central gripping devices are connected together at their outer ends by a spring 11a that tends to swing apart the blank engaging ends of these devices, and the outer ends of the jaws 106 of those gripping devices which are located nearer the sides of the clamp member are connected by springs 116 to pins 118 so as to swing the blank engaging ends of these devices outward and rearward toward the sides of the clamp member. The springs thus serve to keep the blank engaging ends of the grippers normally separated as far as permitted by step members which engage therewith and which will now be described.

The lower clamp member 6 is provided with a plurality of recesses 120 corresponding in number and relative locations to the gripping devices on the upper clamp inenn her, and in these recesses are mounted bars 122 which are slotted to receive bolts 12% that are threaded into the member 6 and serve to secure the bars 122 in different positions of adjustment. These bars are formed at their inner ends with upstanding pins or projections 126 which are so located as to contact with the respective grippers and limit the swinging movement thereof under the influence of the springs 1141 and 116. The pins 126 are formed with offset or cam portions 128 which serve on the downward movement of the upper clamp member 8 to engage and close upwardly the lower jaws 108 and finally to impart movement to the grippers in opposition to the force of the springs 11% and 116 to gather in the mar ginal portion of the blank and effect the required compensating movement of different portions of the material before the margin is finally clamped between the members 6 and 8.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the offsets 128 on the pins which are nearer the middle of the clamp member begin sufficiently high on the respective pins, relatively to the ofi'sets on the pins that are more remote from th center of the clamp, to complete substantially the inward swinging movement of the two center grippers before the similar movement of those grippers which are nearer the sides of'the clamp members. With this ar- :1

rangement the gathering movement of the two center gripping devices is substantially completed before the other gripping jaws have closed upon the material, and is followed by the gathering movement toward. the two center gripping devices of those devices which engage the material farther outwardly along the blank. Different portions of the blank are thus moved in succession to effect the final desired distribution of the material previous to the clamping and toe forming operations.

The pins 126 serve also as stops to gage the initial position of the margin of the blank and determine the width of flange which will be formed between the members 6 and 8. On loosening the bolts 12%, the bars 122 may be moved radially outward or inward to vary the width of this flange in accordance usually with the size of the blank which is to be operated upon, and the same adjustment will serve to vary proportionately the extent of gathering movement of the gripping devices according to the distances from the fulcrum pins 110 at which these devices are engaged by the offsets 128. The wider the flange, therefore, the greater the shifting movements which will be imparted to different portions of the blank.

The recesses 120 are of proper depth to receive the lower jaws 108 when the clamp members 6 and 8 are in clamping position and to leave the material engaging teeth on these jaws projecting slightly above the surface of the member 6 so as to assist the memhere 6 and 8 in holding the blank securely in position. The upper jaws 106, it will be understood, are so thin as not to interfere with the clamping of the material between the clamp members, and the recesses 120 are of sufiicient width to accommodate variations in the extent of swinging movement of the grippers.

The side portions of the blank engaging part of the clamp member 6 are preferably provided with sockets inclined toward the rear of the corresponding part of the member 8, and in these sockets are mounted for endwise movement pins 130 the upper end surfaces of which are formed to lie in gen erally parallel relation to the clamping face of the member 6 and are roughened or toothed to engage the under surface of the material. The pins 130 are socketed to receive springs 132 and plungers 134, which are arranged to hold the pins normally projected a suitable distance from the face of the member 6. In view of the inclination of the pins 130, it will be understood that when the clamp member 8 has moved downwardly a sufficient distance to press the blank upon the projecting ends of the pins, further movement of the clamp member will serve to depress the pins in their sockets and consequently to impart a slight forward movement to the side marginal portions of the blank before the blank is finally clamped between the members 6 and 8. The pins 130 will preferably project from the surface of the member 6 a suitable distance with reference to the offsets 128 of the outer pins 126 to cause the forward movement of the side marginal portions of the blank to .take place after the lateral or gathering movement of the outer gripping devices has been substantially completed, so that the movement of the material caused by the depression of the pins 130 is the third and final successive gathering or adjusting movement imparted to the blank before the final clamping of the marginal portion thereof.

In the operation of the machine it will be understood that after the heel portion of the upper has been formed and while it is still retained in the forming mechanism the parts come to rest with the mechanism for operating upon the toe part in position to receive the toe end of the upper, and with the cams shown on Fig. 1 somewhat advanced from the positions indicated on said figure. The clamp member 8 at this time is in its uppermost position, and the jaws 108 hang downward from the jaws 106 in position to receive the marginal portion of the upper, which is now inserted between the jaws of the gripping devices with its edge in contact with the pins or gages 126. The machine is now started again in operation by depression of its actuating treadle;

As the cam shafts 30 and 98 resume their rotation, the cam 36 first operates upon the roller 82 to depress the rod 20 and move the yoke 10 and the clamp member 8 downward toward its clamping position withrespect to the member 6. As the clamp member 8 carries the grippers downward, the jaws 108 which pertain to those two grippers which are nearer the median line of the clamp member first encounter the offsets or cams 0n. the respective pins 126 and are closed upwardly to grip the marginal portion of the material between said jaws and the respective jaws 106; and as the downward movement of the clamp member continues the offsets 12 8 cause these grippers to swing toward each other in opposition to the force of the spring 114 and gather or pucker the gripped material. During this gathering movement of the central grippers the jaws 108 of the outer gripping devices are being moved upwardly by contact with the, respective cams 128 and are finally caused to grip the material at the time when the inner grippers reach the straight portions of their respective cams 128 and, therefore, cease their swinging or gathering movement. The outer grippers are now swung inward by their cams 128 and cause a further gathering in of the material with respect to that portion which has been gathered by the inner grlppers.

After the outer grippers have reached the straight portions of their respective cams and have therefore ceased their gathering movement, the clamp member 8 arrives at a point to grip the side marginal portions of the blank between said member and the ends of the pins 130, and further downwardv movement serves to depress these pins and consequently to impart to the side marginal portions of the blank a slight forward gathering movement toward the outer grippers. This is the third and final adjusting or gathering movement imparted to .the blank, and is followed by the clamping of the marginal portion of the blank and the pressing or molding of the flange thereon. a In the clamping position of the clamp memv bers the toothed portions of the jaws 108 will, as previously explained, project slightlyv above the face of the member. 6 to assist, as will also the ends of the pins 130, in securely holding the blank margin. 3

After the member 8 has been moved to clamping position, the ,cam 36 serves to'retain it in such position during the toe forming operation, with the spring 22 imparting the requisite clamping pressure. The rotation of the shaft 30 next brings the offset portion of the cam groove 52 in position to operate the roller and raise the slide 48 and the toe former 10 sufficiently to bring the .forward under edge of the former in a plane above'the marginal edge of the clamp member 8. Rotation of the shaft 98 has now brought the offset portion of the cam groove 102 in position to operate upon the roller 100 and raise the slide 96. This serves to straighten the toggle 80, 82 and move the slide 56 forwardly, thereby 11nparting forward movement to the toe former to form a bulge of the toe over lts flange and simultaneously a crease between the flange and the toe. To facilitate this forming operation the edge of the clamp member 8 iscut backwardly upon its upper side. Rotation of the shafts 30 and 98 now. ceases automatically, and the parts of the mechanism are retained in the position towhich they have been moved to permit the upper to set to shape while the upper of the other shoe of a pair is being operated upon in another part of the machine. VVhenit is desired to remove the upper, a further actuation of the starting mechanism, it will-be understood, causes the parts to return to their first position represented in Fig. 1.

It will be seen by referring to Fig.3 that the gripping or gathering devices. are arranged unsymmetrically with reference to the clamp members in order to effect, the required movement of different portions of the unsymmetrical blank; and it will be understood that in the mechanism for form.- ing the upper of a left shoe these devices will be arranged in reversed relation. tothe sides of the clamp members.

Although the invention has been disclosed as embodied in apparatus havingthe specific features of construction shown and. described, it will be understood that the invention in its broader aspects isnot thus limited in its application: but that other embodi ments are comprehended, within the spirit and scope of the claims.

It should. be understood also that in the use of the termsv grippers and. gripping devices in the claims it is not the intention, except where required by the context, to limit the invention to devices of the form shown comprising pairs of cotiperating jaws but to comprehend a: broad; range of equivalent devices adapted toperform the required functions. The novel method herein disclosed is not claimed in this application but forms the subject-matter of a divisional application Serial No. 59,042,, filed Nov- 1, 1915.

Having described the invention, What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for forming a toe from a toe blank, of means for effecting a relative movement of adjustment of different portions of the margin of the blank previous to the operation of the toe forming means.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for forming a toe from a. toe blank, of means for effecting a shaping and compensating relative movement of different portions of the margin of the blank before the blank is acted upon by the toe forming means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for forming a toe from a toe blank, of means for gathering in the marginal portion of the blank in the regions of the abruptly curved portions of the toebefore the endof the toe is formed by saidtoe forming means.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for forming a toe from a toe blank, of means for relatively moving different portions of the blank at its edge substantially in the plane of the mar gin before the blank is acted upon by the toe forming means.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination Withmeans for forming a toe from a toe blank, of means for forming an out-turned sole attaching flange upon said blank, andmeans for gathering in the material. along the line of said flange previous to. the. operation of said flange forming means.

6. In apparatus. of the class described, the combination with means for forming a toe from a toe blank, of clamping means arranged to hold positively the marginal portion of the blankduring the operation of the toe forming, means, andmeans for effecting a relative movement. of adjustment of differ ent portions of themargin of the blank before said margin issecured: by the clamping means.

7. In apparatus'of the class described, the combination, with. means for forming a toe from a, toe blank, of means for engaging different portions ofthe blank about its edge and moving. said portions forwardlyfrom opposite sides of the blank different respective distances toward the toe end substantially in the direction of'the curved contour of the blank to gather the material about said end of the blank before the blank is acted upon, by the toe forming means.

8. In apparatus ofthe class described, the combination with means for clamping a toe blank along its outeredge, of a toe former movable transversely and then longitudinally of said clamping means, and means for gathering in portions. at the margin of said blank at; the toe end previous to the longitudinal movement of the toe former.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with means for forming a toe from a toe blank: of means for imparting relative movements of adjustment successivelyto different portions of the margin of the. blank.- 10. In apparatus of the class described, the. combination with means for forming a tee from a toe blank, of means for gathering in the marginal portion of the blank at the toe end and for subsequently moving the marginal portion at the sides of the blank forwardly toward the toe end to adjust the relative positions of different portions of the material of the blank.

ll. In apparatus of the class described. the combination with toe forming means, of members arranged to engage the marginal PO 'tiOH of a toe blank at a plurality of points about the edge of the blank to feed the material forwardly toward the toe end of the blank, and means for imparting feeding movements in succession to said members respectively which are located at points successively more remote from the toe end of the blank. I

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a toe former, of a plurality of pivoted grippers constructed and arranged to engage the marginal portion of a toe blank at different points and m vable about their pivots to effect relative adjustment of different portions of the blank, and means for moving said grippers.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for forming an out-turned sole attaching flange upon an upper blank, of a plurality of grippers arranged to engage the flange portion of the forepart of the blank, said grippers being pivoted for movement of the flange engaging portions thereof forwardly and inwardly toward the toe end of the blank.

1a. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for forming a toe from a toe blank, of a plurality of pivoted grippers for engaging the marginal portion of the blank, said grippers being arranged to radiate outwardly from the blank, and means for swinging said grippers to effect relative adjustment of difierent portions of the material of the blank.

15. In apparatus of the class described, he combination with means for forming a toe from a toe blank, of a plurality of grippers for engaging the marginal portion of the blank, said grippers being arranged to radiate outwardly from the blank and pivoted for swinging movement substantially in the plane 0]": said margin, and means for swinging the blank engaging ends of said grippers in the direction of the toe end of the blank.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for forming a toe from a toe blank, of a plurality of grippers arranged to engage the marginal portion of the blank, means for moving toward each other the grippers which are located near the toe end of the blank, and means for subsequently moving forwardly toward the toe end of the blank the grippers which engage the material at points more remote from the toe end.

17. In apparatus for forming a tee from a toe blank, a plurality of grippers comprising jaws arranged to grip the marginal portion of the blank, and means for swinging said grippers in directions to gather in the material toward the toe end of the blank.

18. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamping position, of means operated by the relative movement of said members for. engaging portions of the material to be clamped at the margin of said material and moving said portions in directions transverse to the direction of said relative movement of the clamp members.

19. In apparatus of the class described, the combination withrmeans for forming a toe from a toe blank, of clamp members relatively movable to clamp the marginal portion of the blank and form an out-turned flan e thereon and means oierated durin b 7 b said relative movement of the clamp members to clamping position for moving different portions of the margin of the blank substantially in the plane of the margin.

members relatively movable to clamp the V marginal portion of the blank, of grippers arranged to engage said marginal portion of the blank, said grippers being pivoted for swinging movement in substantially parallel relation to the blank engaging faces of the clamp members, and means for efiecting said swinging movement of the grippers before the blank is finally clamped by the clamp members.

22. In apparatus for forming a toe from a toe blank, the combination with clamp mem-- bers relatively movable to clamp the marginal portion of the blank, of a plurality of grippers carried by one of said members and arranged to grip the marginal portion of the blank, and means for moving said grippers in substantially parallel relation to the blank engaging faces of the clamp members during the relative movement of said members to clamping position.

23. In apparatus for forming a toe from a toe blank, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp the marginal portion of the blank, of a plurality of grippers carried by one of said mem bers and arranged to grip the marginal portion of the blank, said grippers being ar ranged unsymmetrically upon said clamp member to engage relatively farther from the toe end that portion of the blank which is to be located at the outer side of the shoe, and means for moving said grippers in substantially parallel relation to the blank engaging faces of the clampmembers during the relative movement of said members to clamping position.

In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp the marginal portion of a blank, of devices for gripping said portion of the blank at separate points, and means for moving said devices respectively in different directions transverse to the direction of relative movement of said clamp members before the blank is clamped by said members.

25. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp the marginal portion of a blank, of a plurality of devices for gripping said portion of the blank at separated points, and means for moving different gripping devices at different respective times during the movement of the clamp members and in directions transverse to the direction of relative movement of said clamp members.

26. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of gripping devices carried by one of said members and movable with respectthereto in substantially parallel relation to the clamping face of said member, said devices being arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material before it is clamped, by said members, means for normally positioning said devices with respect to said carrying member, and means for moving said devices to shift the position of different portions of said material during the relative movement of said members to clamping position.

27. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices being arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material at different points before it is clamped by said members, and means for swinging said gripping devices to shift the position of different portions of said material before the material is clamped by said members.

28. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices being arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material at different points before it is clamped by said members, means for normally positioning said devices upon their carrying member, and means for swinging said grippi g evices a tthei ares d rin'g relative movement of said members to clamping position.

29. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extending transversely to the plane the clamping face of said member, said devices being arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material at different points before it is clamped by said members, yielding means for normally positioning said devices with respect to their carrying member, and cam means for engaging and swinging said devices about their axes curing movement of said members to cl'ai'nping position.

30; In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clam-p members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a plurality of g ippi'ng devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices being arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material at different points before it is clamped by said members, yielding means for normally positioning said devices with respect to their carrying member, means for swinging said gripping devices in different directions respectively to shift the positions of different portions of said material before it is clamped by said members, and means for varying the extent of swinging movement of'said devices.

31. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices being arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material at different points before it is clamped by said members, yielding means for normally positioning said devices with respect to their carrying member, means for swinging said gripping devices in different directions respectively to shift the positions of different portions of said material before it is clamped by said members, and means for varying relatively the extent of movement of the different gripping devices.

32. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a lur ality of gripping devices mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices comprising normall 0 en 'aws arran ed to ii) the mari: a l

ginal portion'of said materiahmeans for closing said jaws upon the material during the relative movement of said members toward clamping position, and means for moving said devices to shift the positions of difl erent portions of said material before the material is clamped by said members.

33. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members 'relatively movable to clamp the marginal portion of a toe blank, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices comprising normally open jaws arranged to grip the marginal portion of said blank, means for first closing those jaws which are nearer the toe end of the blank and for subsequently closing those jaws which are located farther from the toe end, and means for imparting swinging movement to said first named jaws and subsequently to said last named jaws to gather the material about the toe end of the blank before the material is clamped by V said members.

34. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp apiece of material, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices comprising normally open aws arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material, and cam means for engaging and closing said jaws upon the marginal portion of said material and for swinging said devices about their axes during the relative movement of said members to clamping position.

35. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes ex tending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices comprising normally open jaws arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material, and cams for engaging and closing said jaws upon the material and for swinging said devices about their axes during the relative movement of said members to clamping position, said cams being arranged to operate first upon those jaws which are nearer the toe end of the blank and to operate subsequently upon those jaws which are more remote from the toe end.

36. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members rela tively movable to clamp a piece of material,

' of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extions to vary the extent of movement of said devices. r

37. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices being arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material and comprising jaws one of which is pivotally mounted with respect to the other and movable by gravity to open position, means for closing said jaws upon the material, and means for "swinging said gripping devices to shift the positions of difi'erent portions of said material before the material is clamped by said members.

'38. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said membersand movable about axes extending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices being arranged to grip the marginal portion of the material at diiferent, points before it is clamped by said members and comprising jaws arranged to be normally opened by gravity, upright pins on the other clamp member, and yielding means for holding the gripping devices normally against said pins, said pins being formed with cam surfaces for engaging and closing the jaws and for imparting swinging movement thereto during the relative movement of the clamp members to clamping position.

39. In apparatus of the class described,

"the'combination with clamp members relatively movable to clamp a piece of material, of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally mounted upon the clamping side of one of said members and movable about axes extending transversely to the plane of the clamping face of said member, said devices being arranged to grip the marginal portion of said material at different points before it is clamped by said members, and means for swinging said gripping devices to shift the positions of difierent portions of the material before the material is clamped by said members, the clamp member opposite to said gripping devices having recesses formed new therein to receive said deviceswhenvsaid members are in clamping position.

40. In apparatus of the class described, the combination; with clamp membersrelm tively movable to clamp a piece of material,

of a plurality of gripping devices pivotally of said material at diiferent points bea ore it is clamped by said? 1nembers-,qand means for swinging said gripping devices to: shift the positions of differentportionsof the mate+ rial before thematerial is clamped by said members, the clamp :memb er opp osite to said gripping devices having recesses formed therein of a depth t0'I'QCGlVGt'hQelOWGIHjEUNS of said: devices, saidlowerjaws being tormed with: toothed material engaging; faces to", as: si-stv in ofinally clamping'the material 41. In apparatus of. the-class de'scribed the combination with- -clamp; members mela-v tively mov-ableto clamp a piece-of; mate' -"ialof material engaging, devices projecting fromtheclamping face of oneofi saidimem: bers and 'yieldingly movable cini directions. inclined tothe. face of. saidmember during relative-movement of saidv members to clamping position.

42., In apparatus of thevclass described, the combination with clamp; members relatively movable toclampa piece of mate ia of-pinsprojecting from the clamping face of one of said members i and yieldingly-movable endwise in directions inclined'tmthe face of saidmember, said pins having thein proj ecting end. surfaces; substantially parallel to saidclahmingface and roughened for engagement with the materialiso. as to impart lateral movement to portions of the ma terial during. movement. .of. the clamp I members to clamping position. L

43; In apparatus of. the class; described, it

' clamp members relatively movabletoclamp a piece. of materiahone of saidumemb'ers be-:

ing formed withfsockets,extendingiinwardly. I

Brown:

from ,itsg'clamping; face in directions inclined toithe plane ofsaid face, pinsmovable end- 5 wise-in said sockets and yielding means for projecting; the ends of said pins normally beyoncbthe plane of said: face.

44.4 In apparatus of the class described,

the combination with clamp members relati=vely movable to clamp the marginof a toe blank, of pins projecting endwise from the clamping face of one of said members at the sides of; said member inadirections inclined toward the rear portion-of theother clamp member; said: pinsbeing: arranged to engage thenblank'and depressible endwise on the relative movementof-saidimembers to clamping positionnso aszto move portions of the material at the sides of the blank toward the front :end of the blankbefore "the margin is finally clamped by the clamp members.

45. Ini-appanatns of theclass described, the combination -'1W-l-i3l1 clamp members relatively movable to clamprthe margin-of. a toe blank, of pins projecting,- endwise -from the clamping faceof one of said-members at the sidesethereot and yieldingly movable endwise: in directions inclined toward" the front of the clamp so as to move thematerial at the sides of: the blank forwardly on rel ative movement, .of' said members to clamping position,. and, pivotedgripping devices arranged to engage the .front marginalportion of the blank and movablelto gather in the MATTHIAS BRQOK. LOUIS M. BROWN.

Witnesses tov the signature of Matthias Brook's Howimn. O., WVmsLoW,= HARLQW M; vDAvis-r lVit'nesses tothe signature of Louis M.

CHESTER E...R.OGERS,, ABBIE L. FREAK...

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by add'ressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1).0. 

